Plant-Insect Host Switching Mechanism

Abstract

Phytoplasmas are intracellular parasites of both plants and insects and are spread among plants by insects. How phytoplasmas can adapt to two diverse environments has long been of considerable interest. Transcriptional analysis revealed that phytoplasmas dramatically alter the gene expression in response to their hosts and may use transporters, secreted proteins, and metabolic enzymes in a host-specific manner. Several plasmids cloned from phytoplasmas have been speculated to be involved in insect transmissibility. In addition to plasmids, immunodominant membrane proteins are thought to have some important function for host-parasite interactions. It has been suggested that the protein-protein interaction between immunodominant membrane proteins and insect microfilaments may be correlated with the phytoplasma-transmitting capability of leafhoppers. Further analyses about plant-insect host switching mechanism will contribute to the development of novel methods of pest control for phytoplasma diseases.